Guide to the Anais Nin Collection

Collection Title:

Anais Nin Collection

Dates:

1925-1964

Identification:

MS 14

Creator:

Nin, Anaïs, 1903-1977

Extent:

11 Boxes

Language of Materials:

English

Abstract:

The Anaïs Nin Collection contains manuscripts, proofs and galleys to much of Ms. Nin's writing from 1925-1964. Included are
early unpublished works, short stories, unfinished novels and plays, and various stages of major works, namely, Under a Glass Bell, House of Incest, Winter of Artifice, Children of the Albatross, Ladders to Fire, Spy in the House of Love,
Collages and Seduction of the Minotaur. Her first critical book, D.H. Lawrence: An Unprofessional Study, is also here. Much of the material has been proof-read by Henry Miller and has his notes.

Acquisition Information:

The materials in the Nin Collection were acquired from Anaïs Nin between 1952 and 1964. The series of correspondence between
her and Northwestern University Library staff from 1951-1974 has also been processed as part of the collection.
The contents of folders 1-8 in the Series 9 addition, Box 11, which includes all correspondence by Nin and Ian Hugo to Myron
Wood, Edward Titus, and "Marcia" were purchased October 1969. The letter found in folder 9 from Nin to Robert Kirsch, ca.
1966, was purchased May 2011. Ian Hugo's 1946 letter to Oscar Baradinsky in folder 10 was purchased in 2010.

Processing Information:

Processed by Nancy Zee in 1973 and revised by Ellen V. Howe in 1976. Holograph corrections and comments in the original finding
aide were made by Anaïs Nin's biographer Noel Riley Fitch in 1991. Revisions to the encoded finding aid were made by Sigrid
Pohl Perry in February 2006.The entire collection has been microfilmed and a copy of the master may be ordered.Addition processed by Benn P. Joseph, 2011.

Conditions Governing Use:

Copyright for materials resides with the literary executors of Anaïs Nin. All users must comply with federal copyright regulations.

Biographical/Historical Information

Anaïs Nin (February 21, 1903-January 14, 1977) was born in Neuilly, France, but moved to New York City with her mother and
brothers after her parents separated. She abandoned formal education to work as a model. In 1923 she married Hugh Parker Guiler,
moved to Paris with him, and embarked on her writing career. Her first published work was a critical study of D.H. Lawrence, D.H. Lawrence: An Unprofessional Study. Nin began writing erotica in the 1940s, the most famous of which was Delta of Venus. She wrote explicitly about her fantasies as well as her sexual experiences in extensive diaries which spanned nearly six
decades, including details about intimate friendships and passionate relationships with leading literary figures including
Henry Miller, Edmund Wilson, Gore Vidal, James Agee, and Lawrence Durrell. After her death, her second husband, Rupert Pole,
arranged for the unexpurgated publication of her diaries which became more acclaimed than any of her other writing.

Scope and Content

The Anaïs Nin Collection contains manuscripts, proofs and galleys to much of Ms. Nin's writing from 1925-1964. Included are
early unpublished works, short stories, unfinished novels and plays, and various stages of major works, namely, Under a Glass Bell, House of Incest, Winter of Artifice, Children of the Albatross, Ladders to Fire, Spy in the House of Love,
Collages and Seduction of the Minotaur. Her first critical book, D.H. Lawrence: An Unprofessional Study, is also here. Much of the material has been proof-read by Henry Miller and has his notes.

The McCormick Library also holds additional Anaïs Nin correspondence which is not a part of this collection.

Subjects

Personal Name

Container List / Contents

Early unpublished material

Versions of John NovelBox 1, Folder 1

Part 1. “Second Novel First Version of John Novel.”, 1929Box 1, Folder 1

Scope and Contents:
Typewritten beneath: “She saw a very wide circle being traced around her. It was made of flames. Its circuitous route has
encompassed 2 men with her. She was emprisoned.” Corrected typescript and holograph. [72pp.]

Scope and Contents:
Original Ms. Typescript, 8pp. with pencil corrections. Also signed letter to Oscar Baradinsky from Nin about this college
“lecture” and her enclosure about her “printing experience,” typescript 2pp. Folder also includes article on Anais Nin from
“Current Biography”.

An exchange of letters with librarians at Northwestern University Library regarding the Nin collection. 49 letters from Anais
Nin, 1952–1974. 50 letters to or about Anais Nin, 1951–1974.Box 10, Folder 6